Palmerton has implemented a steeper fine for vehicle owners who refuse to move their cars during a snow emergency.

On a 4-1 vote, borough council on Thursday approved a resolution to raise the fee to $25 for non-compliance, and $50 if the fee is not paid within 72 hours.Councilmen Richard Nothstein, Kris Hoffner, Jeremy Barbosa and council President Terry Costenbader were in favor. Councilman Jason Behler was opposed. Councilwoman Holly Sell and Councilman Michael Ballard were absent.The prior fine for non-compliance had been $10.Subdivision land developmentAlso on Thursday, council met with Joseph Bennett concerning the property at 555 Delaware Ave., the former Bennett Palmerton dealership, which now houses a Dunkin' Donuts shop, and serves as a medical office for Blue Mountain Health System's new family practice physician, Dr. Syed Zia. The back end of the site has served as a Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit facility since 2010.Last month, council granted an extension that was set to expire today at the property."The one issue that we have on the plan submitted today is it did not address the encroachment," Costenbader said.Bennett offered a response to Costenbader's concern."We don't know the amount of the encroachment," Bennett said. "If we are encroaching, then we will redo the deeds to show the area of encroachment, and do a lot line adjustment and resubmit both deeds with that lot line adjustment."Bennett noted that the plan for the Family Dollar (Store) is recorded, while the plan for the Dunkin' Donuts and medical office is not.Costenbader said the borough would be able to work with Bennett on the matter.Bennett said he appreciated that consideration.Dog feces revisitedUnder the hearing of visitors, resident Mike Kearney, of 542 Lafayette Ave., once again approached council over a matter that appeared to be settled in the fall.In November, council adopted an ordinance to amend Section 54 of the code of the borough entitled dogs or other animals one month after it heard complaints from several residents one of whom was Kearney that reside in the 500 block of Lafayette Avenue."Thank you guys for (changing) the dog ordinance in November," Kearney said. "Unfortunately, the situation isn't getting any better."Kearney said that neighbor in question has three dogs, but refuses to clean up their feces."With the warm weather coming up, if the feces is there, it's going to stink," he said. "It's an ongoing problem, and we've got to solve it before it gets out of hand."Kearney added, "She's not taking into consideration the people around her."Nothstein asked whether there was stronger action the borough could take on the matter.Costenbader said he visited the property, at which time he observed the feces."If you cleaned up what I saw, it was quite a quantity," Costenbader said. "There's a considerable amount of feces on the ground."Costenbader said he believes the borough's code enforcement officer needs to visit the property on a daily basis to address the issue.Hoffner said the ordinance specifically states that the feces needs to be removed."The problem we're having now is that it still isn't working," Hoffner said. "Our goal was to have it cleaned immediately."In other business, council:• On a 4-0 vote, with an abstention from Behler, appointed Dennis Behler as the borough's emergency management coordinator once the borough receives permission from the state. Until then, Joseph Kercsmar will remain in that role, it was noted.• Appointed William Stibrany to serve on the borough's Planning Commission, shade tree commission, and hospital authority.